Taaffes Castle is a son of Sandmason like Supreme Novice hero Summerville Boy© Photo Healy Racing
The old ‘overnight success after many years trying’ line was hardly ever as applicable as in the case of the now 21-year-old stallion Sandmason. He had his name up in lights again on Sunday through point-to-point winner Taaffes Castle.
Lacken Stud, County Wexford-based Sandmason was taken from relative obscurity to now being one of the busiest sires in the country through the exploits of Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Summerville Boy and Grade One Aintree scorer Black Op.
At the County Cork venue of Boulta, Taaffes Castle began his career in the Powers Gold Label 5yo Geldings Maiden and made a winning start for up-and-coming handler Ian Andrew Power.
County Kilkenny-based Power also owns Taaffes Castle and reflecting on his charge’s four-length win, he said: “He was only bought out of a field at the end of April. We knew we had a real good horse on our hands after a few pieces of work where he showed fierce ability.
“He’s a gorgeous big brown horse — 16-2 (hands) plus with a real big swagger to him.
“He’s going to Cheltenham Sales on Friday with the same credentials as Black Op — a five-year-old point-to-point winner.
“It was a brilliant achievement from the horse. He was only brought in in May, and broken then, and to go straight and win his point-to-point impressively first run speaks volumes for the horse.”
